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TVNZ's current affairs shows are the hardest hit in a round of job losses which will see up to 60 staff go.
Between 50 and 60 news and current affairs staff at TVNZ will lose their jobs, the state broadcaster has confirmed.
The news was broken to staff
at a series of meetings this afternoon. Close Up, 20/20, Fair Go and Sunday will all lose staff.
At least eight news reporters are also thought to have been told their positions are being made redundant.
Breakfast has also "been decimated" one source said.
The proposal includes the closure of the news reference library, Wellington's Sunday programme office, the Wanganui and Queenstown offices, a reduction of camera operators in Wellington and Auckland, and smaller cuts across almost every other news and current affairs division.
TVNZ's press gallery office would be staffed by three journalists and one producer with the deputy political editor's position being disestablished.
In total, up to 160 employees from among TVNZ's 1000-strong staff are expected to be made redundant in the restructuring.
The redundancies have been on the horizon since the beginning of the year, as the broadcaster has come under increasing fire for poor financial performance.
TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said that the affected people could be relocated to other teams.
The company will open up its proposals for consultation for two weeks before final decisions are taken.
"It will be many weeks before the situation is entirely clear," Ms Richards said.
Next week announcements would be made about broadcasting services, she said.
The rest of the lay-offs would be spread across other departments.
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said the redundancies were a serious attack on New Zealand journalism.
"This means more news is going to have to be covered by fewer people, which can only lead to a reduction in quality.
"The decision to scrap the news reference library alone will have a serious impact on the quality and depth of New Zealand journalism for years to come."
The Public Service Association, which also represents members at TVNZ, said the redundancies would hurt the broadcaster in the long term.
"TVNZ needs to lift its game to win back viewers, not get rid of highly skilled and experienced staff. This is a panic-induced measure that I predict will come back to haunt TVNZ ," PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said.
Last month TVNZ announced a 15.5 per cent reduction in net profit for the first half of the year ended December 31.
In a memo to staff in February chief executive Rick Ellis said an estimated 140 to 160 jobs would be cut.
